BR0213733B1 - filter element and method of mounting an adhesive-glued inner sleeve filter element. - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid filter includes a cylindrical pleated filter media disposed around a central perforated support core or self-supporting. An outer support sleeve comprising a extruded nylon, diamond-shaped mesh is stretched across the pleated media, and elastically conforms to the pleat peaks to structurally retain the pleats of the pleat peaks in fixed relation to one another. A bead of adhesive is then applied over the sleeve to fix the sleeve to the pleat peaks. End caps are disposed at opposite ends of the fluid filter.

Description

"FILTER ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING FILTER ELEMENT WITH INTERNAL GLOVE STICKED"

The present invention generally relates to fluid filters and their mounting.

A known type of fluid filtering filter element such as hydraulic oil or lubricant comprises a sheet of filter material folded to form a plurality of parallel pleats or folds. The outer edges of the sheet are placed together so that the sheet has a cylindrical configuration, with the folds of the sheet extending axially or longitudinally. The edge edges of the sheet are then joined together as with adhesive, stitching or other devices to retain the filtrone material in cylindrical form.

Such a pleated medium has certain advantages over non-pleated medium, when the pleats provide a large surface area in contact with the fluid to be filtered, which increases the ability to retain dirt and minimizes the pressure of the filter element.

The pleated filter means may be coreless, i.e. self-supporting, and received over a cylindrical perforated support tube integral with the filter housing when the element is located in the housing; or it may include an integral cylindrical perforated core with the element. End caps are typically received at each end of the appropriate adhesive filter element being applied between the end caps and the middle. One end cap has a central aperture that allows fluid to flow radially through the filter medium. It is allowed to flow through the opening to an outlet passage in the housing. The fluid to be filtered typically passes radially inwardly through the filter half and then outwardly through the opening in the end cap when this is the most advantageous flow direction for efficient fluid filtration.

It is important that the pleats of the filter medium are able to withstand the pressure drop of fluid flowing through the medium. If a significant pressure drop occurs, the pleats may be deformed, and bend or group together. This is undesirable as the fold surface area available for filtration is reduced, which reduces element life. One solution is to apply resin filter medium, which is then cured to give the filter medium a certain amount of stiffness. However, only a resin-cured medium cannot withstand the pressure drops that occur through the medium in many applications. Resin curing also adds manufacturing steps, which increases the total cost of the element. Alternatively (or in addition to resin curing), an epoxy-coated aforin mesh may be layered with hatred when the medium is pleated. However, this also increases the manufacturing steps for fabricating the filter element, and increases the cost of the element. The steel mesh also does not lend itself to easy landfill, ie it is not easily incinerable, which raises environmental issues. A variety of techniques have been proposed to directly support the folds of the filter medium. US-A-3,306,794 to Humbert, Jr., for example, shows a pleated filter medium surrounding a central core, where globules or drops of adhesive cement are applied to the pleat peaks, and a layer of paper The outer perforation is then wrapped around the folds. The side edges of the paper layer are overlapped and adhesively affixed together. It is also known to apply hot melt adhesive to the folds, and then to wrap a layer of spiral support around the folds. It is also believed that fusion agglutination was used to attach an external support wrap to an internal filter medium.

Another technique is shown in US-A-4,956,089 to Hurst, where the pleated medium is located between the inner and outer support cages. Each of the carrier cages consists of a meshed thermoplastic material tube such as polypropylene. Degen, US-A-4,693,985 to Degen; US-A-5,824,232 to Ahser et al .; and US-A-4,609,465 to Miller, show similar structures where an outer support weave, mesh or cage is formed from materials such as fluoropolymers, halogenated polymers, polyesters, or polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene. The Applicant believes that high density polymer demonofilament fabric is typically used for support cages. As should be appreciated, such materials provide relatively rigid support cages.

Prior art support structures for pleated media are believed to be relatively rigid cage-like structures that are intended to provide support for a pleated medium between the cages; or were formed of a more flexible material that was mechanically or chemically fixed to the middle folds, such as with a bead or previously applied adhesive fillers. While these techniques could provide sufficient structural integrity for a pleated medium in many applications, it is believed that these techniques may have certain drawbacks. Providing rigid inner and outer cages, for example, requires polymers or other relatively expensive materials, and costly manufacturing steps to form cages. Cage manufacturing tolerances must also be carefully controlled to fit tightly over the folds. Additionally, while cages appear to provide structural integrity to the element, it is believed that structural integrity is primarily in the axial direction, that is, to prevent crushing of the element. Pleats are still generally free to move inside the cages. This can also raise folding and folding issues during use.

On the other hand, for adhesively fastened wrappers, the adhesive may grease through the fold peaks and against the inner surface of the medium when the wrapper is being applied. This gives a poor appearance and can clog the middle dust thereby reducing the available surface area of the medium. There may also be compatibility issues of the fluid to be filtered and the adhesive, particularly with hot melt adhesives, as some adhesive bonds have been found in certain commercially available cartridges to break during use. It may also be difficult to apply an ink-printed label to the outer sleeve of an adhesive-fastened wrap, as the adhesive globules distort the information as it is applied. This generally required the glove to be preprinted with the manufacturer's name, etc. This facilitates a modification of the information or adaptation of the information to a particular element. All in all, the above question may be unacceptable, or at least undesirable, in many applications.

Accordingly, the Applicant believes that there is an industry demand for a pleated filter element with an external support structure that is easily located over the pleats, and which prevents pleats from moving relative to each other during use, but which It does not require difficult or expensive mechanical or chemical steps to paralyze the support structure to the pleats.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a filter element is provided comprising a cylindrical pleated filter medium having a continuous series of interconnected plugs extending axially circumscribing a central cavity, the pleats projecting radially off the central axis to define a plurality. crease deposits. A continuous elastic support sleeve, usually having an inner dimension smaller than an original outer dimension of said cylindrical means, is arranged in a stretched relationship surrounding the spikes of the filter medium. The glove compressively retains the pleats in fixed relationship with each other. A bead of UV curable adhesive is then applied to the outer surface of the carrier glove. The adhesive bead twists through the support sleeve and retains the fold peaks in the support sleeve.

The present invention provides a unique new fluid filter, and a method for mounting the fluid filter, whereby the folds of a cylindrical filter medium are retained in fixed relationship to each other by an elastic continuous outer support sleeve. The glove retains the pleats by ra-dial compression and a bead of adhesive, which is applied after the whitening is stretched around the pleats. The fluid filter is relatively easy and straightforward to assemble, which reduces the total cost of the filter element. The filter components also lend themselves to easy disposal in a landfill, as they are easily incinerable. As an added benefit, the filter has a substantially unobstructed outer surface that allows identification markers (model numbers, logos, etc.) to be printed directly onto conventional filtering machines and devices.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer support sleeve has a continuous tubular shape which is stretched over the folds and generally conforms to the fold peaks. The support sleeve is formed from an elastic material, and preferably from a polymer mesh such as extruded denylon diamond-shaped mesh. The mesh has a high yarn density and a yarn angle of about 60 to 90 degrees in the circumferential direction, which provides good expansion characteristics in the circumferential direction. The support sleeve typically has a slightly smaller outer dimension than the cylindrical half-roll, and is expanded by at least 3% when taken over the cylindrical pleated medium.

Preferably, the pleated medium comprises a multilayer sheet with wetted glass fiber filter layer (s) having non-woven support interposed between an external extruded polymer support mesh and an internal extruded polymer support mesh. The support luvade and the outer support mesh of the pleated medium interact due to their similar mesh structure to provide structural support to the element.

Once the glove is located over the middle, a transparent crimping band is applied around the glove. The adhesive is preferably a UV cured adhesive, and is otherwise chosen such that the adhesive is easily twisted through the glove to provide a firm grip of the glove in the middle folds. The high density yarn of the sleeve and the absorption of the adhesive on the element allow the identification marking to be printed directly on the outer surface of the filter element. This can be accomplished using machines or imk-pad, inkjet or laser printing devices. End caps may be attached (glued) to the ends of the cartridge both before and after the adhesive bead is applied. The fluid filter is assembled by temporarily providing the filter medium sheet with a continuous series of interconnected plugs, if axially extending, with the side edges of the sheet then joined together such as the adhesive, to retain the filter medium in a cylindrical shape.

The tubular support sleeve is then temporarily attached to one end in a conical assembly tool, and the cylindrical pleated medium is forced through the conical tool to radially compress the medium so that the medium can easily slide into the support plunger.

The composite structure (half pleated and support sleeve) is then radially enlarged. If the fluid filter must have an internal support core, a second conical mounting tool is temporarily attached to one end of the support core, and the support core is then forced into the central cavity of the cylindrical medium, expanding. the cylindrical means on the support sleeve. The supportive sleeve conforms elastically to the pleat peaks and engraves the pleats in a fixed relationship with each other. The tapered tool is then removed from the front end of the support core.

For a coreless element, a mandrel with a similar conical mounting tool is forced into the center cavity of the composite structure, radially increasing at medium, with the support sleeve resiliently conforming to the pleat peaks. The mandrel is then removed which allows the cylindrical pleated medium to contract freely; however, the outer support sleeve still resizes elastically with the fold peaks to retain the folds in fixed relationship with each other.

The adhesive is then applied in a spiral shape around the outer sleeve. The adhesive is twisted through the sleeve and is then UV cured so that the adhesive permanently binds the folds in the outer sleeve. Once the outer sleeve is pulled over the pleated cartridge, the pleats require no additional locating or attachment before attaching the pleat holes in the glove.

The end caps are then attached at opposite ends of the middle, which also connects the support sleeve (and support core, if present) to the middle at both ends of the medium. The appropriate marker may then be applied (for example, printed) directly to the outer surface of the filter.

The fluid filter is new and unique in that it has a pleated structure and an outer flexible support sleeve that retains the pleats in fixed relationship with each other without costly mechanical or chemical bonding.

The technique for mounting the fluid filter is relatively easy and straightforward, which reduces the total cost of the element. The filter element components also lend themselves to easy disposal in a landfill as they are easily incinerable. Additionally, the element can be easily marked with identification markers to facilitate identification of a filter element suitable for a particular application.

The present invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a filter element constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with parts of the element shown in cross section;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional partial end view of the filter element of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a first step in assembling the filter element of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a second step in assembling the filter element of a first embodiment;

Figure 5 is a second step in assembling the filter element of a second embodiment;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the filter matrix for the filter element support sleeve; and

Figure 7 is an additional step in mounting the filter elements in each embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1, a filter element constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. Filter element 10 includes a cylindrical pleated filter means 12 circumscribing a central cavity 13; an external support lug 14 which will be described hereinafter in detail; and a pair of end caps 16, 17 arranged at opposite ends of the element. End caps 16, 17 allow the filter element to be fluidly connected to the appropriate passage (s) in a filter housing (not shown) and to allow fluid to flow out (or to inside) of the central cavity 13 of the element.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, filter medium 12 includes axially extending pleats, for example as generally indicated at 18, which are continuously interconnected with one another. The pleats include outer ends 19 defining pleat peaks, inner ends (curve) 20 and side walls 21 interconnecting the outer ends and inner ends. The pleat shafts are generally parallel to each other and can be formed using any appropriate pleat forming technique, such as a pleat forming machine or a manual one. The number and size of the pleats may vary depending on the particular application.

The filter medium 12 preferably comprises a leaf having a multilayer structure. The multilayer structure includes an inner support mesh 22, an intermediate filtering layer 23 and an outer support mesh 24. The middle layers may be formed of any suitable material, for example polymer, cellulose, polypropylene, polyethylene , polyester, fiberglass, spun material, cloth, paper, nylon, Orlon, etc., or combinations thereof. The inner and outer backing meshes of the domed are preferably an extruded polymer, while the intermediate filtering layer is preferably a moistened fiberglass (e.g., acrylic binder borosilicate glass microfibre). The support mesh should be as smooth as possible to prevent abrasion on the intermediate filtering layer. Upstream and downstream non-woven support layers (e.g., polyester, nylon and hemp layers) may also be provided on opposite sides of the filtering layer to prevent damage to the filtering layer. The choice of materials for filtration bed and support mesh (and nonwoven backing layers - if provided) will generally depend on the particular application, compatibility with the fluid to be filtered and temperature requirements. The techniques for forming each layer should be well known to those skilled in the art.

The filtering layer 23 preferably has a nominal pore size smaller than the nominal "pore size" (yarn density) of the support meshes 22,24. Also, the thickness of the filter layer 23 is preferably smaller than the thickness of the support meshes 22, 24. It is preferred that the filter layer has a nominal pore size of between 1 micron and 50 microns, and a thickness in the range. of about 0.012 cm (0.005 ") and about 0.063 cm (0.025"). The support meshes preferably have a yarn density of about 6 threads per centimeter (16 threads per inch), and a thickness in the range of about 0.038 cm (0.015 ") to about 0.063 cm (0.025"). As should be appreciated, the efficiency of the filtering layer is of a magnitude many times greater than the efficiency of the filtering layers. The pore size, yarn density and thickness of the filtering layer 23 and support meshes 22, 24 (and any nonwoven support layer) may also vary depending upon the particular application (even outside the above ranges). Although a multilayer structure as discussed above is preferred, the filter medium may also be a single layer depending on the particular application. More than a filter layer with one or more support mesh layers could also be provided, or only one or More filtering layers without any supporting mesh layers could be provided.

In either case, the middle sheet is preferably initially formed with the layers in relation to one another overlying one another, and the layers are pleated together using the conventional techniques described above. The lateral edges of the pleats are then placed together, and the edges are attached, as with an adhesive or any other suitable device, such that the medium has a cylindrical configuration. The folds extend continuously around the completed middle assembly, with the folds protruding radially outward.

The outer support sleeve 14 for the element is formed of an elastic material, i.e. a flexible material that can deform and recover at least a portion of its original shape. The support sleeve must also be formed of a material that is compatible with the fluid to be filtered, and has sufficient strength to withstand differential pressure through the filter medium. Preferably, the support sleeve is formed of a thermoplastic resinous resin polymer, for example nylon, which may be extruded or woven, and has a diamond-shaped matrix or mesh structure (see Figure 6). The nominal pore size of the support sleeve should be smaller than the nominal pore size of the underlying filter layer, so that the support sleeve does not provide primary filtration. On the other hand, it is preferable for the glove to have a high enough filter density to allow the identification marker (logos, model numbers, etc.) to be printed as in 36 directly on the outer surface of the glove, using machines or printing devices. by booster pad, inkjet or laser. A glove with a wire density of about 10 threads per centimeter (26 threads per inch) and a thickness in the range of about 0.02 5 cm and 0.07 6 cm (0.010 and 0.030 inches) has been found to be appropriate. However, again, the material, yarn density and thickness of the glove may vary depending on the particular application. The support sleeve material, thread density and thickness suitable for a particular application can easily be determined by those skilled in the art using simple experimentation.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the outer support sleeve 14 is stretched over the pleats, and has an elasticity that allows the support layer to conform to at least the outer pleat peaks of the medium. As should be appreciated, the glove is spaced from the folds in the areas between the folds. The outer support sleeve typically has a radial dimension that is slightly smaller than the normal radial dimension of the pleated medium, and when the outer support sleeve is stretched over the middle, the glove expands slightly beyond its normal dimension. Preferably, the white is stretched at least 3%, and preferably between 3% and 6% beyond its normal outer dimension, that is, the diameter of the glove increases at least 3% when stretched. The stretched elastic support sleeve provides radial compression on the pleats to secure the pleats in a fixed relationship with one another. It has been found that this radial compression retains the pleats in fixed relationship with each other across a range of pressures - in many cases without the need for additional adhesive bonding in half. But in some higher pressure situations, such as found in many hydraulic systems, an external adhesive layer, as will be described below, is necessary or desirable to additionally retain the peak peaks in relation to each other.

As shown in Figure 6, it is preferred that the outer support sleeve 14 has a wire angle Î ± of no more than 90 degrees, and more preferably a wire angle between 60 and 90 degrees. As shown in this Figure, the "wire angle" is measured in the χ (circumferential) direction. When the deflection angle is less than 90 degrees, the force component in the "x" (circumferential) direction is smaller, thereby allowing for greater stretch of the glove circumferentially around the mid-cylindrical. This wire angle also allows for a larger tolerance range for the sleeve and cylindrical pleat structure. Although the above new angle range is preferred, the stroke angle may vary (even outside this range) depending on the particular elasticity desired.

Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, the support sleeve 14 and the outer support mesh 24 for the pre-guided means interengage at the location of the fold peaks due to their similar mesh structures. This provides additional support (increased fatigue strength) for pleats around the filter medium.

After the glove is stretched over the middle, an adhesive bead is applied to the outer surface of the glove as illustrated in Figure 7. The adhesive is preferably applied as a bead 80 in a spiral shape around the glove 14 using a conventional application tool 82. The adhesive is preferably a transparent bonding material that easily twists through the glove so that the material may form a good bond between the crease and crease peaks, and does not significantly interfere with the latest application of printed information on the glove. outer surface of the cartridge. The adhesive is also preferably UV cured, which provides good control over glove mounting in the middle. A suitable UV-cured adhesive is commercially available from Loctite Corporation under the brand name / designation of UV-curable epoxy adhesive 3335, although it is possible that other adhesives may be appropriate or desirable in certain applications as long as the adhesive It has good torsion characteristics, good thermal and chemical resistance and good bonding properties with the polymeric glove materials and the medium. The elastic glove retains the fold peaks in a proper position during application and cure of the adhesive without additional mechanical fixation or retention of the folds.

End caps for the member generally have a circular configuration, with at least one end caps 16 having a central circular opening 30 for fluid flow therethrough. A resilient elastomeric O-ring gasket 32 may be provided in an opening that surrounds the radially directed slot 30 in end cap 16 to seal against an appropriate fluid passage in the housing. The end cap 17 preferably has a continuous unperforated structure or could also have a central circular opening for receiving a fluid passage in the filter housing. End caps may be formed of any suitable impermeable material, such as rigid plastic, which is compatible with the fluid to be filtered and which can be easily incinerated or otherwise easily disposed of in a landfill.

End caps 16, 17 are attached at the ends of the filter medium with a suitable adhesive or other device. The adhesive is applied across the entire annular end of the pleated medium, and also attaches support blank at the middle ends as well as the ends of the support core (if present). While the support glove preferably extends over the entire length of the pleated medium, it is possible that the support glove may close very close to the ends and still be fixed to the medium through the adhesive mass. End caps 16, 17 may be attached to the ends of the cartridge both before and after adhesive is applied as described above.

The pleated filter means may be internally supported by a support core, indicated at 33; or may be "coreless", that is, self-supporting, and removably received around a support tube integral with the filter housing. A support core and general support tube include a plurality of openings spaced along the length of the tube / core for radial fluid flow, and are received narrowly within the inner (curved) ends 20 of the pleats to support the inner ends. of the folds. A support tube / core may be formed of any material suitable for the particular application, such as rigid plastic (particularly for a support core) or metal (particularly for a support tube). Circumferentially extending strips of material could also be attached at the inner ends of the folds, for example as described in U.S. Patent Application. No. 08 / 792,036, filed January 31, 1997, entitled "Coreless Non-Metallic Filter Element", now US Patent No. 6,099,729, to allow the filter element to be easily inserted into or removed from a support tube in the housing .

Referring now to Figure 3, to manufacture filter element 10, means 12 is initially mounted in a cylindrical configuration. The outer support sleeve 14 is then temporarily secured (e.g. secured) at its front end 39 to a tapered mounting tool40. The tool 40 has a first end 42 attached to the sleeve 14 of the same diameter as the sleeve, and a second free end 44 having an internal dimension (internal diameter) that is at least as large and preferably slightly larger. that the outer dimension (outer diameter) of the middle subset. The means 12 is inserted axially into the tapered tool 40 through the enlarged end 44.

As the cylindrical medium is inserted through the tool, the medium is radially compressed by the tapered inner surface of the tool to a dimension smaller than the bearing luv to allow the cylindrical medium to be easily slid into the tool sleeve. support 14.

After the medium is inserted into the glove 14, the conical tool 40 is removed from the front end of the glove, with the result that the glove extends along the entire length of the cylindrical medium.

It is noted that the individual medium subsets may be inserted one at a time into the individual support sleeves, or a substantial length of cylindrical medium may be inserted entirely into a substantially longer outer sleeve, and then the composite structure may be cut to form individual filter elements.

In any case, referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the composite structure (middle and support sleeve) is then radially enlarged. Referring first to Figure 4, which illustrates a first embodiment with a central support core 33, the support core has an external dimension (outside diameter) slightly larger than the internal dimension (inside diameter) of the compressed cylindrical medium. The support core is provided with a second tapered mounting tool 54 temporarily attached (e.g. pre-sa) to the front end 56 of the support core. The conical tool 54 has a first end 58 attached to the front end 56 of the support core having a dimension (outer diameter) about the same dimension as the outer diameter of the core, and a radially reduced front end 60 having a dimension ( outside diameter) configured to be received within the central cavity 13 of the cylindrical medium.

The support core 33 with the conical tool 54 is slid axially into the central cavity 13 of the composite structure, with the conical tool surface 54 radially increasing and expanding the medium so that the cylindrical housing has an inner dimension (inner diameter) that slides easily over the support core 33. Thus, the pleats are radially forced outwardly to stretch and resiliently deform the backing sleeve 14. Again, it is preferred that the backing sleeve be stretched about 3% to 6%, such that the glove provides radial compression at the fold peaks sufficient to have the folds in a fixed relationship with each other. The outer dimension of the support core required to perform this stretch can be easily calculated or determined using simple experimentation.

After the support core 50 is inserted into the cylindrical name, the tapered tool 54 is removed from the support core. The adhesive is then applied by the tool 82 to a bead around the cartridge as shown in Figure 7, and is UV cured. End caps 16, 17 are then attached to the middle ends, thereby also securing the ends of the support sleeve 14 and the inner support core 33 in the middle.

Referring now to Figure 5, which shows a second "coreless" embodiment, a sizing mandrel70 is provided with an outer dimension (outer diameter) slightly larger than the inner dimension (inner diameter) of the composite medium and sleeve. Support. The mandrel has a tapered end 72 which is axially inserted into the central cavity 33 of the cylindrical means. The tapered end of the sleeve has a front end 73 with an outer dimension (outside diameter) configured to receive in the central cavity, and a rear end 74 with an outer diameter (outside diameter) around the same dimension as the mandrel to allow that the mandrel is easily slid in the cylindrical medium. When the mandrel is given a cylindrical designation, the mandrel radially widens the composite structure in the same manner as described above with respect to the embodiment of Figure 4, so that the pleats expand radially outwardly into the stretched outer support sleeve, and the sleeve conforms elastically. pleating peaks to fix the pleating peaks in relation to each other.

The mandrel 70 is then removed, with the result that the composite structure contracts radially, however, this contraction is only slight (i.e. even larger than the original outer dimension), and the support sleeve continues to fold the pleats relative to each other. fixes with each other. Again, it is preferred that the resulting support sleeve (after the mandrel is removed) be expanded (stretched) between about 3% to 6% for proper pleat retention. The external dimension of the mandrel required to perform this widening can easily be determined by experimentation and / or simple calculation. The adhesive is then applied to a bead around the cartridge, as in Figure 7, and the adhesive is UV cured. The end caps 16, 17 are then attached to the middle ends, which again also secure the ends of the support sleeve to the middle. The coreless element is then suitable for insertion over an integral support core with a filter housing.

After the end caps are mounted at the ends of the filter element in each of the above fashion, the element can then be marked with identification markers (eg logos, model numbers, etc.) using a device. appropriate marking, such as a stamp pad, ink jet, or laser printer. Logos, model numbers, etc. They can be applied directly to the outer surface of the support sleeve, which due to its high yarn density, and adhesive absorption, can accept marking in sufficiently ineligible form.

As such, the present invention provides a novel single fluid filter and a technique for mounting the fluid filter that is relatively easy and straightforward, and which reduces the total cost of the element. In addition, the outer support sleeve maintains the fold peaks in fixed relationship with each other in difficult or expensive mechanical or chemical bonding. The filter element components also lend themselves to easy disposal in a landfill as they are easily incinerated. Additionally, the element can be easily marked to facilitate identification of a filter element suitable for a particular application.

Claims (10)

1. Element of. a filter comprising: a cylindrical pleated filter means (12) having a continuous series of axially extending interconnected pleats (18) circumscribing a central cavity (13), the plugs (18) projecting radially off the central axis (13) for defining a plurality of pleat peaks (19), a continuous elastic support sleeve (14), the support ditalve (14) having an internal dimension normally smaller than an original external dimension of said cylindrical means (12), and said support sleeve (14) disposed in a stretched relationship, surrounding the fold peaks (18) of the filter means (12), such that the sleeve (14) compressively retains the folds (18) in fixed relationship with one another. characterized by the fact that an adhesive bead (80) is applied to the outer surface of the support glove (14), said adhesive bead (80) twisted through the support glove (14) and retaining pleat points (19) on the support sleeve (14). Filter element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive (80) is a UV-cured adhesive. Filter element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive (80) and the whiteness (14) are formed of materials such that the adhesive (80) is twisted through the sleeve (14) and Identification markers (36) may be printed on an outer surface of the gloves without significant interference by the adhesive (80). Filter element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive (80) is applied to a spiral bead around the sleeve (14). Filter element according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized by the fact that it includes a centrally located perforated support core (33) supporting the medium (12). 6. Method for mounting a filter element, comprising the steps of: providing a cylindrical pleated filter means (12) having a continuous series of axially extending interconnected pleats (18) circumscribing a central cavity (13), providing a continuous elastic support sleeve (14), characterized in that said support sleeve (14) has an internal dimension normally smaller than an original external dimension of said cylindrical means (12), radially compressing said cylindrical means (12) such that the outer dimension of the cylindrical means (12) is smaller than the inner dimension of the support sleeve (14), and insert the compressed cylindrical means (12) into said support sleeve (14). ) and thereafter expanding said pressurized cylindrical means (12) back to their normal outer dimension, so that said support sleeve (14) extends in a circumferential manner along the cylindrical means (12) and is elastably extended. stretched to structurally retain the folds ( 18) of the cylindrical means (12) in fixed relationship with each other, apply a bead of adhesive (80) to the outer surface of the glove (14) after the glove (14) is stretched over the middle (12), bonding a pair of end caps (16, 17) at opposite ends of said cylindrical means (12). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the step of applying the dead bead (80) further comprises applying a UV-coated adhesive. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the adhesive (80) and the glove (14) are formed of materials such that the adhesive (80) is twisted through the glove (14), and further includes the step of applying identification markers (36) to an outer surface of the sleeve (14) after the adhesive (80) is applied significant interference by the adhesive (80). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the step of applying the dead bead (80) further comprises applying the bead (80) in a spiral manner around the glove (14). A method according to claim 6, further characterized by the fact that it includes the step of inserting a perforated support core (33) with a conical tool (54) in the central cavity (13) of the cylindrical means (13). 12) surrounded by said support sleeve (14), so as to radially widen the cylindrical means (12) and deformally support the support sleeve (14), said support core (33) being retained within the central cavity (13). ) cylindrical dome (12).